PLATEAU LG ELECTIONS: NO CANDIDATE YET FOR APC IN PANKSHIN, AS COURT RESTRAINS APC, PLASIEC FROM RECOGNIZING, HON. AUDU KAK'MENA

By: Valentine Adese (JP),

With recent developments, there are strong indications that, there might not be a Chairmanship candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Pankshin Local Government Area of Plateau State in the forthcoming, Plateau State Local Government Elections, as a Plateau State High Court has granted Orders of Interlocutory  Injunctions, restraining the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Plateau State Independent Electoral Commission (PLASIEC) from giving effect to the alleged unconstitutional primary election of the APC in Pankshin Local Government Area.

The Plateau State High Court, Pankshin Division, presided over by, Hon. Justice, B. S. Ngyou, upon hearing a Motion on Notice brought by Abafaras Gabriel Ngolong and Rotshak G. Yokden(Plaintiffs/Applicants) pursuant to Orders 42 and 43 of the High Court of Plateau State (Civil Procedure) rules 2020, has granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction, restraining the APC, being the 1^st Defendant, in suit No. PLD/P27CV/M2/2021, whether by itself, its agents, privies of assigns or any other person acting through it, or however, from recognizing or further recognizing, Hon. Audu Kak’mena (2^nd Defendant), as the nominated candidate from the primary election purportedly held on the 24^th of June, 2021, and/or presenting or submitting his name to PLASIEC (3^rd Defendant), as the nominated candidate of the APC for the Chairmanship position of Pankshin LGA of Plateau State in the forthcoming Plateau State Local Government Councils elections, pending the determination of the Plaintiffs/Applicants substantive suit.

The Court also granted an Order of Interlocutory Injunction, restraining PLASIEC (3^rd Defendant) from giving effect to the purported primary election of the APC of Pankshin LGA, pending the determination of the Plaintiffs/Applicants’ Substantive suit.

From the face of the Orders of the Court, the 2^nd Defendant, Hon. Audu Kak’mena has been also restrained from parading himself or acting or presenting himself as the candidate of the APC for the Chairmanship position of Pankshin LGA in any manner whatsoever, pending the determination of the suit.

“And after hearing, M. A. Abdullahi (Esq) with J. E. Okpe for the Plaintiffs/Applicants, it is hereby ordered that: parties in the suit are directed to maintain the Status Quo Ante, pending the final determination of the substantive suit”. The Court Order further stated.

The matter has been adjourned to the 16^th of November for hearing.